Method and apparatus for heat radiation of illumination for growing plant

ABSTRACT

A method for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant includes: detecting an external temperature and an internal temperature of a plant growth chamber, and when the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature, executing a first heat radiation in which a cold air generated from a cooling system of a building is introduced into a ventilation/air-conditioning duct to which a rear side of the lights is exposed. The method further includes, when the internal temperature is higher than the external temperature, executing a second heat radiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of Korean Patent Application No.10-2010-0109064, filed on Nov. 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technique of heat radiation ofillumination for growing plant, and more particularly, to a method andapparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant withina plant growth chamber by interworking with a ventilation system withina building having the plant growth chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As well-known in the art, a light emitting diode (LED), an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) (e.g., active matrix LED (AMOLED), organicelectroluminescence (EL), etc.), or the like can be manufactured to havea size smaller than an existing light bulb type lamp (halogen lamp), soit can be easily installed in a desired place without causing anunnecessary waste of space and can be installed even in a space in whicha bulb type lamp cannot be mounted without changing the exterior,considerably reducing a product design cost. Further, the LED, the OLED,or the like has a semi-permanent life span, excellent durability, andfast responsiveness.

Recently, a technique of raising various desired plants by using a plantgrowth chamber (or a plant greenhouse) in which plants are grown byoptimizing growth conditions has been generalized and expanded in use,and a bulb type lamp is generally used as lighting equipment forregulating the growth environment of plants in this plant growthchamber.

However, recently, an environment in which illumination such as an LED,OLED, or the like is used for growing plants due to their variousadvantages of illumination tends to gradually expand.

In this respect, an LED that can be manufactured by the currenttechnology converts about 15% of input power into light, while theremaining 85% of the input power is converted into a heat. Thisgenerated heat increases an operational temperature of the LED. When theoperational temperature is increased, unlike the existing halogen lamp,the LED causes problems such as a reduction in a life span, adegradation of performance, or the like. With this considered, it isrequired to design an effective heat radiation system in order to use ahigh output LED as lighting equipment for plant growth.

Thus, in order to prevent a degradation of functions due to anoperational environment of the high temperature of the high output LEDwhich has high heat generation density, an effective heat radiationsystem should be constructed. However, a heat radiation space and a heattransmission path are limited due to a structural problem of a head lampand a spatial limitation, greatly restricting an application of theexisting heat radiation technique.

Namely, the existing LED heat radiation system includes a naturalconvection heat sink (i.e., a passive heat sink) using a naturalconvection, an active heat sink using a fan, a water cooling (or liquidcooled) cold plate increasing a heat transmission by using a coolant, aheat pipe using an internal circulation according to a phase change, andthe like, depending on a cooling method.

However, in case of the water cooling cold plate and the heat pipeemployed in the existing heat radiation system, although they havesuperior heat radiation capabilities to those of the natural convectiontype heat sink and the active heat sink, a great amount of costs areincurred to configure a system and a space for attaching an additionaldevice should be secured.

In addition, since the existing heat radiation system necessarilyrequires an additional structure for heat radiation, the cost isadditionally increased, and since its mass and volume is increased, alarger installation space is required to cause a spatial restriction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention to provide a method and apparatus forradiating a heat of illumination for growing plant installed within aplant growth chamber by interworking with a ventilation system within abuilding having the plant growth chamber.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plantincluding: detecting an external temperature and an internal temperatureof a plant growth chamber in which multiple lights are installed,respectively; when the external temperature is higher than the internaltemperature, executing a first heat radiation mode in which a cold airgenerated by actuating a cooling system of a building in which the plantgrowth chamber is installed is introduced into aventilation/air-conditioning duct to which a rear side of the lights isexposed; and when the internal temperature is higher than the externaltemperature, executing a second heat radiation mode in which an externalcold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growingplant including: a ventilation/air-conditioning duct installed within abuilding having a plant growth chamber, and having a structure forcirculating an air through the interior; multiple lights installed suchthat a rear side thereof is exposed to the interior of theventilation/air-conditioning duct; an external temperature sensor fordetecting an external temperature of the plant growth chamber; aninternal temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of theplant growth chamber; and a control block for executing a first heatradiation mode in which a cold air generated by actuating a coolingsystem of the building is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected external temperatureis higher than the internal temperature, and executing a second heatradiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected internal temperatureis higher than the external temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual view of a plant growth chamber employing anapparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plants inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the apparatus for radiating theheat of illumination for growing plants in accordance with theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of radiating the heatof illumination for growing plants by using a cold air of a coolingsystem or an external air based on the difference therebetween inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of re-using the airdischarged from a ventilation/air-conditioning duct when a heatradiation mode is executed, for a heating operation or a coolingoperation in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein, including thebest mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

In the following description of the present invention, if the detaileddescription of the already known structure and operation may confuse thesubject matter of the present invention, the detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted. The following terms are terminologies definedby considering functions in the embodiments of the present invention andmay be changed operators intend for the invention and practice. Hence,the terms should be defined throughout the description of the presentinvention.

Combinations of respective blocks of block diagrams attached herein andrespective steps of a sequence diagram attached herein may be carriedout by computer program instructions. Since the computer programinstructions may be loaded in processors of a general purpose computer,a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processingapparatus, the instructions, carried out by the processor of thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create devicesfor performing functions described in the respective blocks of the blockdiagrams or in the respective steps of the sequence diagram. Since thecomputer program instructions, in order to implement functions inspecific manner, may be stored in a memory useable or readable by acomputer aiming for a computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, the instruction stored in the memory useable or readable by acomputer may produce manufacturing items including an instruction devicefor performing functions described in the respective blocks of the blockdiagrams and in the respective steps of the sequence diagram. Since thecomputer program instructions may be loaded in a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, instructions, a series ofprocessing steps of which is executed in a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to create processes executed by acomputer so as to operate a computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, may provide steps for executing functionsdescribed in the respective blocks of the block diagrams and therespective steps of the sequence diagram.

Moreover, the respective blocks or the respective steps may indicatemodules, segments, or some of codes including at least one executableinstruction for executing a specific logical function(s). In severalalternative embodiments, it is noticed that functions described in theblocks or the steps may run out of order. For example, two successiveblocks and steps may be substantially executed simultaneously or oftenin reverse order according to corresponding functions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual view of a plant growth chamber employing anapparatus for heat radiation of illumination for growing plants inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a plant growth chamber includes a plant growthplate 102 in which plants (or crops) desired to be grown areaccommodated, and a ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 in which anair is circulated is installed through inside and outside of the plantgrowth chamber. Here, the plant growth chamber is provided in a buildingin which the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 is already installedfor a ventilation system within the building.

Also, an illumination control board 108 on which multiple lights 106 forgrowing the plants are mounted is detachably installed at positionspaced apart from the plant growth plate 102 by a certain distance. Theillumination control board 108 is installed such that a heat radiationportion on a rear surface of the illumination control board 108 isopened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 toallow a generated heat to be radiated (namely, the rear side of thelights 106 is exposed to the interior of theventilation/air-conditioning duct). Herein, the lights 106 may be, e.g.,LEDs, OLEDs, (AMOLED, organic EL, etc.), lighting appliances (bulb typelamps) or the like.

One or multiple air inlet controllers 110 a and 110 b including, e.g., ablow fan, a motor, a driver, or the like are be installed at an externalair inlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, and one ormultiple air outlet controllers 112 a and 112 b including, e.g., a blowfan, a motor, a motor driver, or the like may be installed at anexternal air outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Namely, in the heat radiation apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, when an internal temperature a of the plant growth chamber isrelatively higher than an external temperature β, the air inletcontrollers 110 a and 110 b are operated to allow external cold air tobe smoothly introduced to the illumination control board 108 on whichmultiple lights 106 installed in the plant growth chamber are mounted.Further, the air outlet controllers 112 a and 112 b are operated toallow air which has been heated upon passing through the illuminationcontrol board 108 to be smoothly exhausted to the outside.

Here, the heated air reaching the outlet (i.e., discharged air) is beexhausted to the interior of the building or a predetermined spacewithin the building for a heating operation or a cooling operation inorder to decrease power consumption for a heating operation or a coolingoperation.

Thus, external cold air introduced in the direction of the arrow 116 athrough the external air inlets 110 a and 110 b flows in the directionof arrows 116 c and 116 d to radiate a heat generated from the heatradiation portion of the lights 106 and the illumination control board108, and then is exhausted through the external air outlets 112 a and112 b.

Further, one side of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 isconnected to a cooling system (or ventilation/air-conditioning system)114 installed within the building, for ventilation/air-conditioning. Thecooling system 114 is actuated under the control of the heat radiationapparatus when the external temperature β of the plant growth chamber isrelatively higher than the internal temperature α to serve to allowgenerated cold air to be introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct 104. Here, the heat radiationapparatus may be mounted at a certain location within the plant growthchamber.

Thus, cold air generated by the actuation of the cooling system 114 andintroduced in the direction of the arrow 116 b flows in the direction ofthe arrows 116 c and 116 d to radiate a heat generated from the heatradiation portion of the lights 106 and the illumination control board108, and then is exhausted through the external air outlet.

Namely, the present invention uses principle of radiating a heatgenerated from the heat radiation portion of the lights 106 and theillumination control board 108 installed in the plant growth chamber byusing the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 of the ventilationsystem installed to ventilate the interior of the building.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the apparatus for radiating a heatof illumination for growing plants in accordance with the embodiment ofthe present invention, which includes a manipulation block 202, anexternal temperature sensor 204, an internal temperature sensor 206, anoutlet temperature sensor 208, a building inside temperature sensor 210,a control block 212, a memory block 214, an air inlet controller 216, anair outlet controller 218, and the like.

With reference to FIG. 2, the manipulation block 202 may refer to atouch screen, a touch pad, or the like mounted on a display screen suchas, e.g., an LCD panel, an OLED panel or the like, or may refer to akeypad, or the like having multiple functional keys, number keys, andthe like. A user selects a function of turning on or off the operationof the heat radiation apparatus through a user interface (a touch or keymanipulation, or the like) of the manipulation block 202, selecting aheating mode or a cooling mode for exhausting air (or discharging air)which has been heated due to heat radiation after being introduced intothe duct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined spacewithin the building, setting or changing a heat radiation referencetemperature or an outlet reference temperature, or the like. Herein, agenerated signal of the user interface is transferred to the controlblock 212.

Further, the heat radiation reference temperature refers to a referencetemperature at which the heat radiation apparatus starts execution of aheat radiation mode, and the heat radiation mode is executed when theinternal temperature of the plant growth chamber is equal to or higherthan the preset heat radiation reference temperature.

Further, the external temperature sensor 204 is be installed, e.g., at acertain position outside the plant growth chamber, and providesfunctions such as detecting an external temperature of the plant growthchamber and transferring the detected temperature to the control block212. The internal temperature sensor 206 is installed inside of theplant growth chamber, e.g., in the vicinity of the illumination controlboard 108 on which the lights 106 are mounted, detects an internaltemperature within the plant growth chamber and transfers the detectedtemperature to the control block 212. Herein, a plural number of theexternal temperature sensor 204 and the internal temperature sensors 206may be installed as necessary.

The outlet temperature sensor 208 is installed, e.g., at an outlet ofthe ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, and provides functions suchas detecting a discharge temperature of air discharged to the outlet andtransferring the detected temperature to the control block 212. Thebuilding inside temperature sensor 210 is installed at a certainposition within the building and provides functions such as detecting aninternal temperature within the building and transferring the detectedtemperature to the control block 212. Herein, a plurality of thebuilding inside temperature sensors 210 may be installed as necessary.

The control block 212 includes a microprocessor or the like forcontrolling a general operation of the heat radiation apparatus. Thecontrol block 212 compares the external temperature of the plant growthchamber and the internal temperature of the plant growth chamberprovided from the external and internal temperature sensors 204 and 206and provides control to execute a first heat radiation mode or a secondheat radiation mode based on the comparison results. Namely, when thedetected external temperature is relatively higher than the internaltemperature, the control block 212 controls execution of the first heatradiation mode in which a cooling system control signal for actuatingthe cooling system within the building is generated and transferred tothe cooling system 114 to allow cold air generated by the cooling system114 to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 andan air outlet control signal is also generated and transferred to theair outlet controller 218. Further, when the detected externaltemperature is relatively higher than the internal temperature, thecontrol block 212 controls execution of the second heat radiation modein which air inlet and outlet control signals are generated andtransferred to the air inlet controller 216 and the air outletcontroller 218, respectively, to allow external cold air outside theplant growth chamber to be introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Also, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that theheating mode for re-using air for a heating operation is selected by theuser, the control block 212 compares a discharge temperature of theoutlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 provided from theoutlet temperature sensor 208 with the temperature of the building(i.e., building inside temperature) provided from the building insidetemperature sensor 210. When the discharge temperature is higher thanthe building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides controlto exhaust the air which has been heated due to heat radiation afterbeing introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to theinterior of the building or the predetermined space within the building.Further, when the discharge temperature is equal to or lower than thebuilding inside temperature, the control block 212 provides control toexhaust the air which has been heated due to heat radiation after beingintroduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to the outsideof the building.

Herein, the predetermined space may be a space which can be arbitrarilyselected by the user as necessary. The exhaustion of the heated air tothe interior of the building or the predetermined space within thebuilding to reuse it for heating may be set to be executed when anoutlet temperature of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 detectedby the outlet temperature sensor 208 is higher than an outlet referencetemperature previously set by the user.

In addition, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state thatthe cooling mode for re-using air for a cooling operation is selected bythe user, the control block 212 compares a discharge temperature of theoutlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 provided from theoutlet temperature sensor 208 with the building inside temperatureprovided from the building inside temperature sensor 210. When thedischarge temperature is lower than the building inside temperature, thecontrol block 212 provides control to exhaust the air which isdischarged after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioningduct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined spacewithin the building. Further, when the discharge temperature is equal toor higher than the building inside temperature, the control block 212provides control to exhaust the air discharged to the outlet, afterbeing introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, to theoutside of the building.

Here, the control block 212 may be set to execute the first heatradiation mode or the second heat radiation mode when the internaltemperature of the plant growth chamber is higher than the heatradiation reference temperature previously set by the user. This is toprevent unnecessary power consumption which may be caused when the heatradiation mode is unnecessarily executed, for example, when the heatradiation apparatus is initially operated and the external temperatureof the plant growth chamber is relatively lower than the internaltemperature of the plant chamber.

The memory block 214 stores information on the heat radiation referencetemperature previously set by the user, preset outlet referencetemperature, information regarding whether to select a heating mode orcooling mode, and the like.

The air inlet controller 216 refers to, e.g., the air inlet controllers110 a and 110 b illustrated in FIG. 1. When an external air inletcontrol signal is provided from the control block 212 (i.e., when thesecond heat radiation mode is executed), the air inlet controller 216operates to serve to allow cold air outside the plant growth chamber tobe introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

The air outlet controller 218 refers to, e.g., the air inlet controllers112 a and 112 b illustrated in FIG. 1. When the air outlet controlsignal is provided from the control block 212 (i.e., when the first heatradiation mode or the second heat radiation mode is executed), the airoutlet controller 218 operates to serve to allow air, which has beenheated while passing through the illumination control board 108 afterbeing introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, to theoutside or the inside the building for heating or cooling.

Now, a sequential process of controlling heat radiation of lights byusing the heat radiation apparatus in accordance with the embodiment ofthe present invention having the configuration as described above willbe described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a major process of controlling heatradiation of illumination for growing plants by using cold air of thecooling system 114 or external air depending on the difference betweenan external temperature and an internal temperature in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3, when the plant growth chamber is driven instep 302, the external temperature sensor 204 and the internaltemperature sensor 206 detect the external temperature and the internaltemperature of the plant growth chamber and transfer them to the controlblock 212 in step 304.

In response, the control block 212 compares the difference between thedetected external and internal temperatures in step 306, to checkwhether the external temperature is higher than the internal temperaturein step 308 or whether internal temperature is higher than the externaltemperature in step 310.

When the detected external temperature is determined to be higher thanthe detected internal temperature based on the check results in step308, the control block 212 generates a control signal for operating thecooling system 114 in step 312. A cold air generated by the operation ofthe cooling system 114 is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 and then transferred to theillumination control board 108, on which the lights 106 are mounted,through an air flow path to radiate a heat generated from the heatradiation portion of the illumination control board 108 (execution ofthe first heat radiation mode) in step 314. To this end, the heatradiation portion of the illumination control board 108 has a structurethat it is opened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioningduct 104.

Or, when the detected internal temperature is determined to be higherthan the detected external temperature based on the check results instep 310, the control block 212 generates a control signal for operatingthe air inlet controller 216 in step 316. External cold air introducedby the operation of the air inlet controller 216 is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 and then transferred to theillumination control board 108, on which the lights 106 are mounted,through an air flow path to radiate a heat generated from the heatradiation portion (execution of the second heat radiation mode) in step318.

Namely, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the externaltemperature is relatively higher than the internal temperature of theplant growth chamber, the first heat radiation mode is executed toradiate a heat of the heat radiation portion of the illumination controlboard by making cold air generated by operating the cooling system 114to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct. Meanwhile,when the external temperature is lower than the internal temperature ofthe plant growth chamber, the second heat radiation mode is executed toradiate a heat of the heat radiation portion of the illumination controlboard by making external cold air introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct.

Next, the air discharged after the foregoing sequential heat radiationprocess may be re-used for heating or cooling the building in order toenhance energy efficiency by restraining power consumption. This willnow be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a major process of re-using airdischarged from the ventilation/air-conditioning duct generated when aheat radiation mode is executed, for heating or cooling the building inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 4, when the heat radiation apparatus executes thefirst heat radiation mode or the second heat radiation mode in step 402,the control block 212 searches for the memory block 214 to check whethera heating mode (e.g., during winter season, or the like) or a coolingmode (e.g., during summer season, or the like) is selected to re-use airfor heating or cooling the building (steps 404 and 406).

When it is determined that the heating mode has been selected based onthe check results in step 404, the outlet temperature sensor 208 detectsa temperature of the discharge air, which is heated due to heatradiation and reaches the outlet of the duct 104 under the control ofthe control block 212 and transfers the same to the control block 212,and the building inside temperature sensor 210 detects the internaltemperature of the building and transfers the same to the control block212 in step 408.

Subsequently, the control block 212 compares the temperature of thedischarge air and the building inside temperature in step 410. When thetemperature of the discharge air is determined to be higher than thebuilding inside temperature, the control block 212 controls to providethe discharge air (heated air) from the outlet of the duct 104 to theinterior of the building or the predetermined space within the building,thereby allowing the air heated due to heat radiation to be re-used forheating the building in step 412. Meanwhile, when the temperature of thedischarge air is determined to be lower than the building insidetemperature, the control block 212 controls to exhaust the discharge airfrom the outlet of the duct 104 to the outside of the building in step414. Herein, in order to allow cold air to be smoothly introduced anddischarge heated air, the control block 212 operates the air outletcontroller 218. This is to allow the air, which has been heated whilepassing through the heat radiation portion of the illumination controlboard 108, to be smoothly exhausted to the external air outlet of theventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Namely, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that theuser selects to re-use air for a heating operation, the discharge air isre-used for a heating operation when the temperature of the dischargeair at the outlet of the duct 104 is higher than the building insidetemperature, or otherwise, the discharge air at the duct 104 isdiscarded to the outside of the building.

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the cooling mode has been selectedbased on the check results in step 406, the outlet temperature sensor208 detects the temperature of the discharge air, which reaches theoutlet of the duct 104 under the control of the control block 212 andtransfers the same to the control block 212, and the building insidetemperature sensor 210 detects the internal temperature of the buildingand transfers the same to the control block 212 in step 416.

Thereafter, the control block 212 compares the temperature of thedischarge air with the building inside temperature in step 418. When itis determined that the temperature of the discharge air is lower thanthe building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides thedischarge air from the outlet of the duct to the interior of thebuilding or the predetermined space within the building, to thus allowthe discharge air discharged from the duct 104 to be re-used for coolingthe building in step 420. When it is determined that the temperature ofthe discharge air is at higher than the building inside temperature, thecontrol block 212 controls to exhaust discharge air from the outlet ofthe duct 104 to the outside of the building in step 422.

Namely, in case where the heat radiation mode is executed in a statethat the user has selected to re-use air for a cooing operation (coolingmode is selected), when the temperature of the discharge air at theoutlet of the duct is lower than the building inside temperature, thedischarge air is re-used for a cooling operation, or otherwise, thedischarge air at the duct 104 is discarded to the outside of thebuilding.

Of course, when it is determined that none of the heating mode and thecooling mode is selected based on the check results in steps 404 and406, the control block 212 exhausts the discharge air from the outlet ofthe duct to the outside of the building in step 422. Namely, when theuser does not select re-use of air for a heating operation or a coolingoperation, the discharge air at the outlet of the duct after heatradiation is discharged to the outside of the building to be discarded.

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, when theexternal temperature of the plant growth chamber in which the multiplelights are installed is relatively higher than the internal temperature,the cooling system of the building in which the plant growth chamber isinstalled is actuated to allow cold air to be introduced into theventilating/air-conditioning duct connected to the heat radiationportion of the illumination control board on which the lights aremounted, and when the internal temperature is relatively higher than theexternal temperature, external cold air is introduced into theventilating/air-conditioning duct, thereby radiating heat generated bythe plant growth lights. Thus, a reduction in a life span of the plantgrowth lights, a degradation of performance, or the like due to heatgeneration can be effectively prevented.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, since a heat generatedfrom the lights installed in the plant growth chamber is radiated byutilizing the ventilation system previously installed in the buildingwithout requiring an additional structure for heat radiation, the costof the apparatus can be reduced and the structure of the apparatus canbe simplified.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to theparticular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes and modification may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

1. A method for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plantcomprising: detecting an external temperature and an internaltemperature of a plant growth chamber in which multiple lights areinstalled, respectively; when the external temperature is higher thanthe internal temperature, executing a first heat radiation mode in whicha cold air generated by actuating a cooling system of a building inwhich the plant growth chamber is installed is introduced into aventilation/air-conditioning duct to which a rear side of the lights isexposed; and when the internal temperature is higher than the externaltemperature, executing a second heat radiation mode in which an externalcold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: checking whether or not aheating mode is set to re-use the air introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct, for a heating operation whenexecuting the first or second heat radiation mode; if it is determinedthat the heating mode is set, discharging the air introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct when it reaches an outlet of the duct,to a predetermined space within the building.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein said discharging the air includes: detecting a dischargetemperature of the air at the outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioningduct and a building inside temperature, respectively; and when thedischarge temperature is higher than the building inside temperature,discharging the air from the outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioningduct to the predetermined space within the building.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the predetermined space is a space which can bearbitrarily selected by a user.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: checking whether or not a cooling mode is set to re-use theair introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct for a coolingoperation when executing the first or second heat radiation mode; if itis determined that the cooling mode is set, discharging the airintroduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct when it reaches anoutlet of the duct to a predetermined space within the building.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein said discharging discharge air includes:detecting a discharge temperature of the air at the outlet of theventilation/air-conditioning duct and a building inside temperature,respectively; and when the discharge temperature is lower than thebuilding inside temperature, discharging the air to the predeterminedspace within the building.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein thepredetermined space is a space which can be arbitrarily selected by auser.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the lights is one of a lightemitting diode (LED), an organic LED (OLED), and a lighting appliance.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the OLED is one of an active matrixLED (AMOLED), and an organic electroluminescence (EL).
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the cold air is allowed to radiate a heat generatedfrom a heat radiation portion on a rear surface of an illuminationcontrol board opened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioningduct.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the detected internaltemperature is equal to or higher than a preset heat radiation referencetemperature, the first heat radiation mode or second heat radiation modeis selectively executed, and when the internal temperature is lower thanthe preset heat radiation reference temperature, the execution of thefirst heat radiation mode or second heat radiation mode is stopped. 12.An apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plantcomprising: a ventilation/air-conditioning duct installed within abuilding having a plant growth chamber, and having a structure forcirculating an air through the interior; multiple lights installed suchthat a rear side thereof is exposed to the interior of theventilation/air-conditioning duct; an external temperature sensor fordetecting an external temperature of the plant growth chamber; aninternal temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of theplant growth chamber; and a control block for executing a first heatradiation mode in which a cold air generated by actuating a coolingsystem of the building is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected external temperatureis higher than the internal temperature, and executing a second heatradiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected internal temperatureis higher than the external temperature.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,further comprising: an illumination control board, on which the lightsare provided, a heat radiation portion on a rear surface of the boardbeing opened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct toallow generated heat to be radiated.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein when the first or second heat radiation mode is executed in astate that a heating mode is set to re-use the air for a heatingoperation, the control block discharges the air introduced into theventilation/air-conditioning duct and reaching the outlet of the duct toa predetermined space within the building.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein when a discharge temperature of the air at the outlet of theventilation/air-conditioning duct is higher than a building insidetemperature, discharging the air to the predetermined space within thebuilding.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the first orsecond heat radiation mode is executed in a state that a cooling mode isset to re-use air for a cooling operation, the control block dischargesthe air introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct andreaching the outlet of the duct to a predetermined space within thebuilding.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein when a dischargetemperature of the air at the outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioningduct is lower than a building inside temperature, the control blockdischarges the air to the predetermined space within the building. 18.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lights is any one of a lightemitting diode (LED), an organic LED (OLED), and a lighting appliance.19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the OLED is any one of an activematrix LED (AMOLED), and an organic electroluminescence (EL).
 20. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein when the detected internal temperature isequal to or higher than a preset heat radiation reference temperature,the control block selectively executes the first heat radiation mode orsecond heat radiation mode, and when the internal temperature is lowerthan the preset heat radiation reference temperature, the control blockstops the execution of the first heat radiation mode or second heatradiation mode.